Signal analyzing method and system



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SIGNAL ANALYZING METHOD AND SYSTEM Filed April 17, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet .12

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INVENTORS BY WW Unite St ES SIGNAL ANALYZHVG WTHOD AND SYSTEM Emory Lalratos, Santa Monica, and Everett M. Goodeil,

Palos Verdes Estates, Caiifi, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Thompson Rama Wooldridge Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 729,118 14- Claims. (Cl. 3435) This invention relates to an improved signal analyzing method and system and, in particular, to an improved method and system for detecting the presence of an obiect and the position and velocity of the object relative to an observer. While not limited thereto, the invention is herein described as embodied in a novel aircraft collision avoidance arrangement for (a) sensing a collision threat (the threat may for example be a nearby aircraft), (b)

predicting the course of this threat relative to the observer,

formation as to the location and/ or velocity of the object relative to the observer. However, in order to provide the noise immunity required for reliable and accurate in formation the radiation signal-to-noise level heretofore required has been so high as to require relatively complex, bulky, and weighty signal detection and analyzing equipment. Thus, such equipment has not heretofore been completely successful in applications,-such as in commercial aircraft, where bulk, weight,.and cost have been prime considerations.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved object detecting and analyzing arrangement for furnishing information as to the location and velocity of the object relative to an observer with a maximum of reliability and accuracy and a minimum of equipment cost, weight, and bulkiness.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved detecting and analyzing method and system for predicting the course of a potential collision threat relative to an observer with a high degree of accuracy and with relatively low power radiation sending and receiving equipment.

A further object is the provision of an improved detecting arrangement capable of analyzing signals representative of a plurality of contemporaneously detected collision threats and providing unambiguous information as tothe evasive action required to avoid the most threatening of the collision threats.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved compact, light weight collision threat course prediction arrangement useful in connection with a radar set operating in a relatively low signal-to noise ratio environment, and wherein the arrangement provides information as to the evasive action required on the part of an observer to avoid-a collision threat.

The foregoing and related objects are realized in a collision avoidance arrangement embodying a signal analyzing method and system according to the invention. Firstly, the signal analyzing arrangement is made responsive only to signals indicative of certain functions of detected object distance and velocity. These functions represent the distance and velocity value combinations indicative of a prediction that the object will reach the general vicinity of the observer at a predetermined time in the immediate future. The distance and velocity value combinations are chosen such thatthis time will be sufliciently large to allow an escape maneuver should it be determined by subsequent signal processing that a given object is on a collision course with the observer. To this end the arrangement of the invention breaks up, into zones, the region of space to'be observed. The velocity of an object in any of the zones is then analyzed to determine whether it falls within predetermined bounds, and thus whether the distance and velocity of the object are such that it is a candidate to be further considered as a collision threat. The analyzing of the object by distance and velocity zones allows a relatively small frequency bandwidth to be analyzed at a time so that theeifect of noise on the signal is minimized. In order to even further minimize the effect of noise, the more distant zones are examined on a relatively low bandwidth basis as, for example, as to distance and velocity with each of these more distant zones as by being tracked by a relatively narrow tracking channel, so that noise present in the zone under consideration, but outside of the particular channel being tracked, will not enter the analyzing circuitry.

Secondly, the signals havingthe aforementioned distance and velocity value combinations are then analyzed to determine whether the angular direction of the object with respect to the observer, relative to its speed and distance, is such that it is actually on a collision course with the observer; this analysis determines whether there is a need for an evasive maneuver. This directional determination is realized by measuring the change in closing velocity between the observer and the object moving relative thereto, closing velocity being defined as the relative velocity between the observer and an object as measured along a straight line connecting the two. The incoming signals associated with each object are categorized in accordance with the closing velocity and distance of the object from the observer. The rate of change of closing velocity is then determined;'if the distance and closing velocity associated with an object fall within a predetermined range and the rate of change in the value of the closing velocity is below a predetermined value (for a given value of closing velocity)the range covering those distance and associated velocity change which together indicate that the object will substantially meet the observer-an indication of the need for an evasive maneuyen and the type of maneuver required, is indicated.

The analyzing arrangement according to the invention also includes 'a. provision for the indication of the required evasive maneuver for greatly distant objects, for example distant mountains, and for exceedingly close objects whose very proximity constitutes a collision threat.

The invention is described in greater detail in connection with the appended 12 sheets of drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts or circuit arrangements, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating the different regions of space observed by portions of the system of the invention in detecting and analyzing the presence and course of objects relative to the observer;

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of the general arrangement of a system constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a diagram of the antenna, transmitter, and receiver portions of the system of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a diagram primarily concerned with the far and near range guard channel portions of the system of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 5a and 5b are, respectively, diagrams of the far and near range detection and analyzing portions of the system of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a diagram of collision predictor portions of the system of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a pictorial illustration of an aircraft cockpit annunciator arrangement useful in connection with the system of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic illustration of a direction sensor circuit useful in the arrangement illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic illustration of a direction sorting circuit useful in a portion of the system of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic illustration of a power supply arrangement useful in the system portion of FIGURES 5a and 512;

FIGURE 11 is a graphical illustration of the distance and tracking arrangements provided by the system of FIGURE 2 as applied to the regions of space depicted in the illustration of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 12 is a chart showing the various distance, velocity, acceleration, and tracking arrangements used in practicing one embodiment of the invention; and v FIGURES l3 and 14 are graphical representations of field patterns taken in, respectively, azimuthal and elevational planes of the antennas used to produce the detection regions designated Zones in FIGURE 1.

In General -In order to more clearly understand the operating principles of the present invention and the novel features of advantage ofiered thereby in processing, analyzing, and/ or transducing intelligence signals representative of such data, as for example the distance and velocity of a detected target, description will now be undertaken of a collision warning system suitable for use by aircraft. The system to be described will be based upon the use of Doppler radar techniques, although the present invention is in no Way limited in value to association with such techniques.

In such a system, in order to develop information as to the evasive maneuver required to avoid a collision, the volume of space observed by a system in which the invention finds especial utility is divided into three categories, each category being used to warn of a different type of collision threat. Specifically, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the volume of space observed by the system is divided into: (a) a far-range region, herein referred to as a far range guard ring, for detecting the presence of large terrain obstacles at an appreciable distance in a direction forwardly of the observer aircraft, say at a distance range of from 10,000 to 12,500 feet from the aircraft; (b) an intermediate region (with which the invention is especially concerned) herein referred to as being made up of a number of collision detection zones (each having a different association of distance and velocity ranges) for detecting the presence of those objects, forward of the observer aircraft, that may be on a collision course with the aircraft and analyzing the return signals produced by these objects to predict their course, the collision detection zones extending for a distance range of say 1,750 to 10,000 feet from the aircraft; and (c) a near range region, hereinafter referred to as a near range guard ring, for detecting the presence of objects at relatively short distances, say at distance of less than about 500 feet from the aircraft, regardless of direction.

With respect to the far range guard ring (zone 6 in FIGURE 1), signals reflected from a terrain obstacle appearing in a prescribed frontal portion of this guard ring are purposely received at two different forwardly directed antenna systems portions on the protected aircraft. As a result, a phase difference is introduced between the signals at these two portions, the phase difference being measurably related to the direction of the obstacle relative to the system. The two out-of-phase signals are then applied to a far range guard channel that provides directional information, based on the phase angle between the signals, for avoiding the obstacle. Range gating is used to define the limits of the far range guard ring.

In connection with the near range guard ring, signals returned from an object in this region, regardless of the direction or velocity of the object, are received by one of two hemispherically directed antennas, the antennas being designed to receive return or echo signals from, respectively, close objects on .opposite sides of the observer aircraft. These opposite sides may be, for example, in directions upwardly and downwardly of the aircraft. Range gating is used to make this guard ring responsive only to objects within a prescribed close distance from the aircraft, say within 500 feet of the aircraft. The general direction of a detected object relative to the aircraft is determined by producing, in response to the detection of an object in the near range guard ring, a biasing signal which is thereafter used to effectively cut out the service of one of the two antennas. If signals continue to be passed to the guard channel, the echo signals must therefore be coming from an object in the direction covered by the antenna whose service was not cut out. Conversely, if no signals are thereafter passed to the guard channel, the echo signals must necessarily be originating in the direction guarded by the antenna whose intercepted signals have been cut out.

As to the intermediate or collision detection zones 1 to 5 of the radiated electromagnetic field: An arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention useful in protecting aircraft is based on the principle that collision warning information is needed only in cases of imminent or near imminent collision, for example 15 seconds before a threatened collision. The provision of a greatly longer Warning time period makes for a less accurate and less reliable arrangement since the direction and velocity of either the observer or object to be detected are more likely to change from a collision to non-collision course, or from a non-collision course to a collision course, within a greater warning period. This greater chance for change in course would give rise to a larger number of false collision warning alarms. Likewise, assuming the maximum effective closing velocity of an object to be fixed, the adoption of a Warning time greatly in excess of, 15 seconds for example, greatly increases the signal-to-noise problem. Receiver range must be increased and/ or transmitter power increased thereby making the equipment more bulky, weighty, and costly.

Signals returned to the observer aircraft from collision threats, such as other aircraft traveling at relatively high speeds through one of the zones, have characteristics that are used to determine whether or not the collision threat and the observer aircraft are on a collision course. These characteristics are used to categorize collision threats as to their closing velocity, distance, rate of change of closing velocity, and direction relative to the protected aircraft. One such characteristic, namely Doppler frequency shift, is proportional to the closing velocity between the system and the detected aircraft, closing velocity being defined as the relative velocity between the system aircraft and the threatening aircraft measured along a straight line connecting the two. The system illustrated by way of example includes a collision channel that provides a signal at the Doppler shift frequency, thereby providing information for categorizing collision threats in terms of their closing velocity. On the other hand, the distance of the detected collision threat is determined by range gating. If the closing velocity and distance of the collision threat in any of the collision detection zones 1 to 5 fall Within predetermined distance and velocity combinations which together would cause the object to arrive at the location of the observer aircraft within the given time interval, and if the rate of change of velocity is zero or close to zero, an indication of the danger is provided. The direction of approach of the collision threat is determined by either of the two direction detection methods described.

By breaking up the intermediate region distance and velocity parameters to be sensed by the system into relatively narrow divisions, zones 1 to 5, the efiect of noise on the system is reduced. The efiect of noise is even further minimized by time sampling some of the more distance zones (far range detection zones 4 and 5) in order to restrict the amount of information that must be analyzed by any portion of the system at one time. In accordance with the present invention, the velocity of the object under observation is broken down into velocity groups correlated with different distance Zones so that only critical combinations of velocities and distances are noted by the system of the invention with an attendant increase. in noise immunity.

Furthermore, in the system the velocities of the object are analyzed to determine whether their velocities are such as to have them not constitute a danger in view of a course which will bring them close to, but still at an appreciable distance from the observer so as not to constitute an actual collision threat.

By means of the foregoing, it has been found that an aircraft collision avoidance system may be made, embodying the present invention, that will have a relatively small Weight and bulk. Since the method and system of the invention finds especial utility in connection with a particular variety of Doppler radar aircraft collision avoidance system (for example of the general type described in greater detail in US. Patent Number 2,991,463, issued July 4, 1961, on an application Serial No. 587,768, filed May 28, 1956, entitled Collision Indication System, by Emory Lakatos et al., and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention), the analyzing arrangement of the invention will be described in connection with this general type of collision avoidance system.

The Collision Avoidance System Referring now to FIGURE 2, a collision indication system of the type referred to is here illustrated broadly in block diagram fashion. A.Doppler radar transmitter as a whole is designated by numeral 10, the entire system receiver is designated by a pair of receiver channels 11a and 11b, and the antenna system, which performs the dual function of radiating the signals generated by the transmitter and relaying return or echo signals to the receiver channels, is generally designated 12. The antenna network 12 radiates into space pulsed energy generated by the transmitter 10. A pair of T-R (transmit-receive) switches 21:: and 21b are. connected to the transmitter 10, and a pair of directional couplers 22a and 22b (in the antenna system 12) are connected in series between the T-R switches and two sets of radiation pattern producing and receiving means or antennas 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24a (FIGURES 2 and 3).

The system shown makes use of two distinct types of sensing regions for providing information relative to the presence of objects in the regions. The first of the sensing regions extends for an appreciable distance outwardly from the observation aircraft along lines generally concurrent With its path of travel, or generally forwardly for the aircraft, while the second of the regions extends for a short distance in a generally spherical pattern around the aircraft, with the first and second sensing regions being established by the separate pairs of antennas 23a and 23b, and 24a and 24b, respectively. The first set of antennas is made up of'a pair of forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b, and thesecond set of antennas comprises a set of hemispherically directed antennas 24a and 24b with the antennas of the second set together forming a substantially sphericalantenna pattern. The forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b comprise the primary radiation pattern producing and receiving means for the aircraft to be protected and the hemispherically directed antennas 24a and 24b comprise the secondary radiation pattern producing and receiving means for the aircraft.

Referring to FIGURE 13, there is illustrated therein elliptically shaped curves 62 and 63 which represent the velocity ranges of detected objects which will arrive at be processed by this channel 31.

6 individual field patterns for the forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b (FIGURE 3), respectively, taken in an azimuthal plane, the patterns being typical of those obtained from an antenna backed by a reflector such as the antennas 23a and reflector 28. The combined field pattern for the forwardly directed antennas 23a and 2311, obtained by adding the individual field patterns 62 and 63, is generally designated 64 and, as shown in FIGURE 13, generally resembles a semicircle. The elevational field pattern contour of the forwardly directed antennas is shown in FIGURE 14 and is generally designated 65. The elevational field pattern is generally cigar-shaped, that is, of relatively narrow beam width, and includes a plurality of shorter lobes which are useful in providing additional vertical coverage not obtained from the main lobe 65.

Referring back to FIGURE 2, in the time periods during which signals are received by the antenna system 12 the T -R switches 21a and 21b are operative to pass received signals into the receiver channels 11a and 11b. The signals processed in the receiver channels 11a and 111; are fed to the far range guard processing channel 31, the near range guard processing channel 32, and the collision information analyzing channel 33. The receiver channels 11a and 11b feed their outputs directly to the far range guard processing channel 31 while the near range guard processing channel 32 and the collision channel 33 each receive the sum of the signals provided by the receiver channels 11a and 11b, the sum of the signals received by the receiver channels 11a and 11b being provided by an adder circuit 42.

The signfls fed into the far range guard channel 31 are applied to range gates 45 for passing only those signals indicative of objects detected within the distance range limits (for example from 10,000 to 12,500 feet) to The signals passed through the far guard range gates 45 and then compared witheach other in a phase direction sensor 47 for determining whether the detected object lies in a right or left portion of the far range guard ring (FIGURE 1). The phrase direction sensor 47 gives an indication of the presence of an object and its relative right or left position in the far range guard ring by actuating an appropriate indicator in a bank of annunciators 36.

The signal fed into the near range guard processing channel 32 from the adder 42 is first subjected to a near guard range gate 53 for determining whether the detected object lies within the near range guard ring, for example a distance of 500 feet in all directions about the observer aircraft. A signal indicative of the presence of such an object is fed into a direction sensor 54 which determines the direction of the sensed object relative to the observer aircraft by momentarily passing a signal to a receiver channel disabling means 49, a circuit that momentarily cuts 01f one receiver channel 11a. This effectively removes from service the antennas associated with the primary and secondary radiation pattern means 23a and 24b. If the direction sensor 54 continues to receive a signal indicative of the presence of an object, an indication is fed to the annunciators 36 that the detected object lies in the directions handled by the other receiver channel 11b. Conversely, if the received signal is cut off, an indication is given that the object lies in the directions handled by the receiver channel 11a subjected to the channel disabling means 49.

The signal fed into the collision channel 33 from the adder 42 is applied to two separate sets of distance and velocity range gates. These range gates are included in the circuitry referred to in FIGURE 2 by the legends Doppler analyzer far range detection zones and Doppler analyzer near range detection zones 82. These range gates (explained in detail in connection with FIG- URES 5a and 5b) detect combinations of distance and the location of the observer aircraft within a predetermined time, say 15 seconds, after the receipt of the signals. If either of the distance and velocity analyzing circuitry 80 or 82 detects such a distance and velocity combination it feeds a signal indicative of this fact to its associated collision predictors 84 or 86, respectively. These collision predictors 84 and 86 study the return signals to determine whether the object and observer will miss each other by a safe margin, say 500 feet or more, even though the object and observer are on a course that will bring them in the same general vicinity. This miss determination is made by analyzing the rate of change of frequency, or Doppler shift, of the return signal. A rate of frequency change more than a predetermined minimum (this predetermined minimum being a function of the distance of the object and is thus different for each of the detection zones 1 to 5 referred to) is indicative of the fact that, while the object and observer are moving generally toward each other, they will miss each other by at least the predetermined safe distance. On the other hand, if no frequency change is observed, or if the rate of frequency change is less than the predetermined minimum for the particular distance zone involved, the determination is made that the object and observer are on a collision course, or that the object and observer will miss each other by less than the safe distance referred to.

Finally, the output from the collision predictors 84 and 86 are fed to, respectively, direction sensors 88 and 90 for determining the direction of approach of the object relative to the observer (that is, whether the object is approaching from the right or from the left) so that the collision warning information applied to the annunciators 36 may take the form of an indication of the course of action to be taken by the observer to avoid the threatened collision. The direction sensors 88 and 90 operate in the manner described above with respect to the direction sensor 54 of the near range guard processing channel 32, namely, by causing the channel disabling means 49 to momentarily disable one receiver channel 11a and observing whether the signal being analyzed continues to be received.

The collision avoidance system will now be discussed in greater detail. Referring to FIGURE 3, the pulsed transmitter includes a crystal oscillator 13 which generates a stable signal at a basic reference frequency. In the embodiment of the invention shown by way of example the frequency of the oscillator signal is 60 megacycles. The oscillator 13 has two output terminals 92 and 94, the first terminal 92 of which is connected to a frequency multiplier circuit made up of two multiplier stages 14a and 14b which increase the frequency of the oscillator signal to some predetermined higher value. In the present case the oscillator signal is multiplied upwardly a number of times from 60 megacycles to a final 2,940 megacycle signal at the output from the second stage 14b. The second of the two oscillator output terminals 94 is connected to a Doppler reference amplifier 96 that is fed through a line M to a Doppler detector or mixer 98 (FIGURE 4) described below.

The output from the second frequency multiplier stage 14b is connected to a driver 100 which in turn is connected in driving relation to a power "amplifier 15 through one terminal 104 of two input terminals 104- and 106 to the power amplifier. The-output signal from the power amplifier 15 is applied through a circuit connection 116 to a transmitter power divider which equally divides the power delivered by the power amplifier 15 to the two T-R switches 21a and 21b. The second input terminal 106 to the power amplifier 15 is connected to a pulse modulator circuit 16 that generates atrain of pulses used to modulate the 2,940 megacycle continuous wave signal applied to the power amplifier 15 by the second frequency multiplier stage 14b.

The pulse repetition rate of the pulse train applied by the pulse modulator circuit 16 is determined by a 40 kilocycle pulse repetition rate oscillator 17 connected to the pulse modulator 16. Consequently, the basic transmitter pulse repetition rate is 40 kilocycles. However, the pulse repetition rate is varied in a prescribed manner from 40 kilocycles to guard against interference from other signals radiated at substantially the same carrier frequency and pulse repetition rate, as from a second similarly equipped aircraft in the vicinity of the observer aircraft. This pulse rate variation is realized by a jitter frequency modulator circuit 18, actuated by a jitter oscillator 108, connected to the 40 kilocycle oscillator 17. A portion of the jitter modulated 40 kilocycle output from the 40 kilocycle pulse repetition rate oscillator 17 is fed via a line L to a sawtooth ramp generator 128 (FIGURE 4). The portion of the output pulses from oscillator 17, these spiked pulses being illustrated at numeral 130 in FIGURE 4, are used to develop a sawtooth ramp signal having a periodicity of 40 kilocycles per second jitter modulated at the same rate as that of the transmitted pulse. Since the transmitter and receiver jitter modulation is derived from the same source, the range gating of the received signals, which is determined by the spiked pulses 130 applied to the sawtooth ramp generator 128, is in synchronism with the transmitted pulses in spite of the jitter modulation provided by the jitter oscillator 108.

Considering the component circuits of the transmitter 10 in greater detail, the crystal oscillator 13 may be an electronically coupled crystal oscillator of the type that is well known in the electronic arts, the crystal being pref erably contained in a crystal oven to minimize the effects of temperature change, which change may cause undesirable deviations from the frequency at which the oscillator is designed to operate, 60 megacycles in the present case.

The first frequency multiplier circuit stage 14a may be made up of several tandemly connected doubler and tripler stages that successively multiply the frequency of the oscillator signal until a final frequency is obtained from the first multiplier stage 14a that is 48 times that of the original 60 megacycle signal, namely, 2880 megacycles. The signal at this 2880 megacycle frequency is fed via a line to the receiver portions of the system to provide the required intermediate frequency signal, as will be explained below. The second frequency multiplier circuit stage 14b includes a mixer circuit for the purpose of producing a 2940 megacycle signal by heterodyning the 2880 megacycle signal received from the first multiplier circuit stage 14a against a 60 megacycle signal generated by the oscillator 13. It is by this means that the 2940 megacycle carrier frequency is produced. Since conventional doubler, tripler, and mixer circuits may be used in the multiplier circuit stages 14a and 14b, no further description of The jitter frequency modulator circuit 18 basically comprises two circuits, one a sawtooth generator circuit that, as the name implies, produces sawtooth signals, and the other a circuit that produces a signal whose frequency varies with the voltage of the sawtooth signal produced by the sawtooth generator. A reactance tube modulator is customarily used for the latter circuit and is preferred herein, the reactance tube modulator operating to vary the inductance of a frequency-determining tank circuit of I an oscillator, thereby producing the desired frequency modulated signal.

The 40 kilocycle or pulse repetition rate oscillator 17 generally comprises a standard type of audio oscillator adjusted to provide a 40 kilocycle signal, the signal being produced at 40 kilocycles by means of a tank circuit tuned to that frequency. The reactance tube modulator heretofore mentioned is customarily connected in parallel with the 40 kilocycle tank circuit and continuously tunes the tank circuit over a predetermined, usually narrow, range of frequencies by varying the value of inductance in the tank circuit in accordance with the voltage amplitude of the sawtooth signal generated in the frequency modulator circuit 18. The pulse repetition rate oscillator 17' may also include a 40 kilocycle magnetic chopper amplifier that takes the sinusoidal output of the audio oscillator and produces a square wave signal therefrom.

The pulse modulator 16 preferably includes a lumped constant transmission line type of pulse-forming network, a discussion of Which'is presented on pages 175 through 224 of volume 6 of the aforementioned MIT Radiation Laboratory Series, entitled Pulse Generators, by G. N. Glascoe and J. B. Lebacqs, published in 1948 by the Me- Graw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York. The pulse modulator 16 serves the purpose of converting the abovementioned square wave signal from the oscillator 17 into 7 energy generated by the transmitter 10. The antenna system 12 receives the transmitter energy through the transmitter power divider 20 that equally divides the transmitter output power and passes the power through the T-R switches 21a and 21b into the antenna couplers 22a and 22b and to the forwardly directed and hemispherically directed antennas 23a and 23b, and 24a and 24b, respectively. Attenuators 112 and 114 may be inserted, respectively, between the couplers 22a and 22b and their respective hemispherically directed antennas 24b and 24a to assure that the hemispherically directed antennas operate at an appreciably lower power than the forwardly directed antennas in spite of the fact that all of the antennas are energized from the same energy source, the single transmitter 10.

More specifically, the transmitter power divider 20 is a 3-ended device which equally divides the signal power applied to its input end 116 to produce therefrom two identical signals of equal power at its output ends 118 and 120. In the present instance the input end 116 of the divider 20 is connected to the power amplifier 15 of the transmitter 10 and the two output ends 118 and 120 are connected to the T-R switches 2 1a and 21b, respectively. Several power dividers that may be used in the present embodiment are shown and described on pages 516 through 528 of volume 9 of the aforementioned MIT Radiation Laboratory Series, entitled Microwave Transmission Circuits, by George L. Ra-gan, published in 1948 by the McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York.

The T-R switches 21a and 2111 are also connected to, respectively, crystal mixer circuits 37 and 38 of the receiver channels 11a and 11b (FIGURE 2) and to the direction couplers 22a and 22b, the T-R switches serving to alternately connect the transmitter 10 and the receiver channels to the direction couplers and, therefore, ultimately to the various antennas 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b. A number of T-R switches that may be employed in the embodiment illustrated are deseirbed on pages 226 through 375 of volume 14 of the MIT Radiation Laboratory Series referred to, entitled Microwave Duplexers, by Louis N. Ridenour, published in 1948 by the McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York.

The directional couplers 22a and 2212 are devices that are generally similar to the transmitter power divider 20 in that each coupler is also a.3-ended device, but with the difference that the directional couplers divide the output power therefrom in some unequal prescribed ratio with respect to'the power applied to its input end. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the input ends 122a and 12% of, respectively, the directional couplers 22a and 2211 are connected to the T-R switches 21a and 21b, respectively, and the two output ends 124a and 126a of one directional coupler 22a are respectively coupled to the right and upwardly directed antennas 23a and 24b, and the two output ends 1241) and 12Gb of the other directional coupler 2212 are respectively coupled to the left and downwardly directed antennas 23b and 2401. As indicated above, the connection between each of the couplers and its respective hemispherical antenna may be made through an attenuator for reducing the signal strength of the signal received from these antennas. While the right andupwardly directed antennas are here illustrated as being coupled'together, it will be understood that, instead, the right and downwardly directed antennas may instead by coupled together (with the left and upwardly directed antennas coupled together). Since the forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23]; are required to receive intelligible signals over a distance appreciably greater than that of the hemispherically directed antennas 24a and 24b, the directional couplers 22a and 22b are constructed to couple appreciably more energy between the T-R switches 21a and 21b and the forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b than between the T-Rswitches and the hemispherically directed antennas 24a and 2412. If the directional couplers are such that the requiredratio of energy is distributed between the forwardly and hemispherically directed antennas without the use of attenuators, the attenuators 112. and 114 (FIGURE 2) maybe dispensed with, the couplers than being directly coupled to the hemispherical antennas. Directional couplers that may be adapted for use in the embodiment illustrated are shown and described in detail on pages 854 through 987 of volume 11 of the MIT Radiation Laboratory Series, en titled Technique of Microwave Measurements, by Carol G. Montgomery, published in 1947 by the McGraw- Hill Book'Company, Inc., New York.

Considering the antennas in further detail, the forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b are preferably broadside arrays of dipoles and are also preferably oriented with respect to each other so as to form a degree angle therebetween, as indicated by dashed lines 25 and 26. Dashed line 27 is a center line and divides the angle for-med by the antennas 23a and 23b into two smaller equal angles, each smaller angle therefore being substantially 45 degrees. Immediately behind the antennas 23a and 23b, and insulated therefrom, are a pair of reflectors 28 and 30, respectively, the reflectors being oriented in the same manner as the antennas, as shown in FIGURE 3, and being spaced approximately one-quarter wave length therefrom to produce unidirectional field patterns.

Due to the presence of the reflecting shields 28 and 3% for all practical purposes only signals reflected from a target positioned within the 90 degree frontalangle defined by dashed lines 25 and 26 will be received by both forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b. In other words, signals reflected from a target lying in the angle defined by the right antenna 23a and dashed line 25 will be reflected by the shield 28 and, therefore, for all practical purposes the reflected signal wave front will never reach the left antenna 23b. Likewise, for targets in the angular region defined by the left antenna 23b and dashed line 26, wave fronts of signals reflected from these targets will never reach the right antenna 2311.

With respect to the hemispherical antennas 24a and 24b, these antennas are used to obtain hemispherical coverage above and below the aircraft and, although truly hemispherical radiation patterns are not obtainable in practice, they can be approximated by making the antennas 24a and 24b flush-mounted and cavity-backed circumferential slots located approximately in the fuselage of the aircraft bearing them. While the hemispherical antennas have been described as being oriented upwardly and downwardly of the protected aircraft it will be appreciated that these antennas may instead by oriented to cover hemispherical regions to the right and left of the observer aircraft. In such a case the right hemispherical antenna is preferably connected to the right forwardly directed antenna and the left hemispherical antenna to the left forwardly directed antenna.

The receiver channels 11a and 11b (FIGURE 2) comprise the mixer circuits 37 and 38 (FIGURE 3), each mixer circuit having first and second input terminals 130a and 132a, and 1319b and 132b, respectively. The first input terminals 130a and 13017 of each of the mixer circuits 37 and 38 are connected to the T-R switches 21a and 21b, respectively, and the second input terminals 132a and 132b of these mixers are connected, respectively, to the two output ends 134a and 134b, respectively, of a receiver power divider 39 whose input end 136 is connected to receive the 2880 megacycle signal produced by the first frequency multiplier stage 14a of the transmitter 10. The receiver power divider 39 may be substantially the same as the transmitter power divider in that it applies two 2880 megacycle signals of equal power to the mixer circuits 37 and 38. The mixer circuits 37 and 38 are connected, respectively, at their output ends 1380 and 138b to a pair of intermediate frequency preamplifiers 40 and 41, respectively, which in turn are connected through lines I and K, respectively, to a conventional adder circuit 42 (FIGURE 4), and to, respectively, right and left far range gates 45a and 45b of the far range guard channel 31 (FIGURE 4). One of the output lines I from the intermediate frequency amplifier 40 includes a serially connected normally closed direction sensing switch 140 (FIGURE 4), the function of which will be discussed below.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the far range guard channel 31 comprises the pair of far range gate circuits 45a and 45b connected, respectively, to receive signals through lines I and K from, respectively, the preamplifiers 40 and 41 (FIGURE 3). The output ends 142a and 142!) of the two range gate circuits 45a and 45b, respectively, are connected to the two input terminals of a phase direction sensor 50. The phase direction sensor is connected to actuate a right or left far range detector 144 or 146, respectively, which determines the directional indication applied to the desired indicator 179 in a bank of annunciators 36 (FIGURE 7) through terminals A1 and A2. Considering the elements of the far range guard channel 31 in greater detail, the range gate circuits 45a and 4512 are each of the kind that will only pass signals returned from a target located between predetermined upper and lower range or distance limits from the observer aircraft, for example between distance limits of 12,500 feet and 10,000 feet. Each of the range gate circuits 45a and 45b comprises a usual gating circuit, many of which are well known in the art. The gating circuits are normally in an inoperative condition, as by being biased beyond cut off, and hence will not normally pass signals applied to them. However, in response to a signal 148, applied to the gate circuits 45a and 4511 through a line 150, both gate circuits are rendered operable to pass signals which may be applied to them for the duration of the signal 148. As indicated in FIGURE 4, the intervals of time between the leading edges of successive unblocking signals 148, corresponding to a lower target range limit of 10,000 feet, and the lagging edges of the pulses, corresponding to an upper target range limit of 12,500 feet, correspond to the intervals of time during which the far range gates 45a and 45b are unblocked. As illustrated in the chart of FIGURE 11, with respect to zone 6 thereof, these 10,000 foot and 12,500 foot distances correspond to, respectively, time periods of a little more than 20 and 25 microseconds after the transmission of a pulse by the antenna system 12.

The unblocking signals 148 applied to the far range gates 45a and 45b are produced through the agency of a conventional blocking oscillator 152 triggered by pulses 154 received through a line 156 connected to a conventional pickotf circuit 158. The pickofi circuit 158 receives a sawtooth signal 160 from the sawtooth ramp generator 128 and generates a voltage spike, signal 154, at a time interval established by the magnitude of the direct current threshold potential applied to the pickoif circuit 158. This direct current threshold potential is applied to the pickofi circuit 158 through a terminal 162.

With respect to the phase direction sensor 50, this is a type of circuit that produces an output voltage whose polarity is indicative of the phase angle between the two signals applied thereto, a number of such circuits being well known in the art. A number of phase detector circuits that may be adapted for providing the phase direction sensing required of the far range guard channel 31 are shown and described on pages 511 to 524 of volume 9 of the MIT Radiation Laboratory Series, entitled Waveforms, published in 1949 by the McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York. As indicated before, the phase direction sensor 50 operates on the principle that signals reflected from a terrain obstacle appearing in a prescribed frontal portion of the far range guard ring are purposely recevied at the two separate forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b. As a result, a phase difference is introduced between the signals at these two antennas, the phase difference being measurably related to the direction of the detected obstacle relative to these antennas. The polarity is a measure of the direction of the obstacle relative to the observer aircraft.

The near range guard channel 32 receives a signal from the antenna system 12 (FIGURE 2) through an intermediate frequency amplifier 43, connected to the adder circuit 42, and through a video detector circuit 52.

The output end 164 of the video detector circuit 52 is connected to the first terminal 166 of two input terminals of a near range gate circuit 53, which circuit is basically the same as either of the far range gate circuits 45a and 45b of the far range guard channel 31. The second input terminal 168 to the near range gate circuit 53 is connected to a blocking oscillator 170, controlled by a pickoff circuit 158. The blocking oscillator 170 and pickoff circuit 158 are basically the same as the blocking oscillator and pickoif circuit 152 and 158, respectively, of the far range guard channel 31 but with the difference that the near range guard channel circuits 158 and 170 have voltage and timing relationships to open the near range gate 53 substantially simultaneously with the transmission of a signal by the transmitter and to close the near range gate at a time interval corresponding to the reception of signals reflected from a target at a distance of about 500 feet from the antenna system. As illustrated in the portion of the chart of FIGURE 11 referred to in connection with zone 0, the near range gate remains open for a time duration of about 1 microsecond.

The direction sensor circuit 54 (FIGURE 2) of the near range guard channel 32, described in detail below in connection with FIGURE 8, operates by momentarily cutting out one of the near range antennas from the receiving channel. If signals continue to be passed to the receiving channel, the signals must be coming from an object in a direction covered by the antenna whose signals were not cut out. Conversely, if no signals are received after the cut out of one of the antennas, the signals must necessarily be originating in the direction guarded by the antenna whose intercepted signals have been cut out. To this end the near range gate output terminal 172 is ap plied to a detector circuit 174 and to a one-shot, 5 second multivibrator 176. The output of the detector circuit 174 momentarily sends an actuating pulse through line 178 to the normally closed direction sensing switch 140 for opening the circuit to signals received from the upwardly directed hemispherical antenna 24b. (The signals re ceived by the near range guard channel 32 from the right .now be discussed in greater detail.

forwardly directed antenna 23a are also cut off but, as will be explained below, direction sensing information is not require'd with respect to near range information receivedby the forwardly directed antennas 23a and 23b.) If an output signal from the detector circuit 174 persists, the direction sensor 54 produces an indicating potential on line A4 producing a signal indicative of the directional evasive action required to avoid a collision with the detected object Thus, an appropriate signal is indicated on the near range panel portion 180 (FIGURE 7) of the annunciators 36. The one-shot, 5 second multivibrator 176 actuates the panel portion 180 and maintains an indication on the panel for the 5 second duration of the multivibrator output.

Referring to FIGURE 8, the direction sensor 54 will As indicated above in connection with FIGURE 4, the output signal from the near range gate 53 is applied simultaneously, through line 172, to the 5 second multivibrator 176 and the threshold detector 174, the latter comprised essentially of a threshold circuit for providing a signal output only in the absence of a signal having an amplitude greater than that of a predetermined minimum value.

The 5 second multivibrator output is fed through a double pole, normally open relay 175, closing both sets of contacts 177 and 179 thereof. One set of contacts 177 feeds current from a direct current source through one set of contacts 187 of a double pole relay 191 momentarily actuating a right annunciator 180 of the annunciator bank 36 (FIGURE 7), and the other set of normally open contacts 179 feeds a signal into an and gate 189. The multivibrator output is also fed through a .1 second, normally open, one-shot multivibrator circuit 173 for momentarily producing a signal through a line 178 to the antenna disabling direction sensing switch 140 (FIGURE 4). The signal to the direction sensing switch 140 cuts out one of the antenna circuits from the direction sensor 54. If the return signal was being received through an antenna not cut off (say the down antenna) by the direction sensing switch 140, the normally closed contacts 187 continue to pass current and the initially indicated signal continues to pass through line A3. Since the normally open multivibrator 173 operates to cut off one of the antenna circuits for only .1 second, the antenna circuit is quickly restored to operation for the receipt of signals indicative of collision threats contemporaneous with the first detected collision threat. However, if the antenna circuit controlled by the direction sensing switch 173 is the circuit through Which the return signal Was received, a threshold information signal from the detector 174 (FIGURE 4) is fed into the and gate 189 together with the signal being received from the 5 second multivibrator 176. The coincidence of these last named signals in the and gate 189 causes a current to be'passed through the relay 191 closing, a normally open set of contacts 193 and opening the normally closed set of contacts 187. This action effects the actuation of an opposite annunciator indicator through line A4. The momentary presentation of a signal on line A3, when an ultimate signal is to be presented on line A4, does not provide directional indication ambiguity in view of the exceedingly short period of time that the opposite indication is presented. If the directional information is presented by a signal light, the normal thermal lag inherent in light bulbs will prevent the 'wrong bulb from even momentarily lighting.

Collision Detecting Zones FIGURES 5a and 5b are concerned with an aspect of the over-all system with which the present invention has especial concern, namely, the collision detection channel 33. In the collision detecting channel 33 only those return signalsindicative of a distance and velocity combination that would cause a collision threat to arrive at the location of the observer within a predetermined time,

14 say the 15 seconds referred to, arecandidates for generat ing collision warning information.

Referring to FIGURES 5a and 5b, it is observed that the output of the intermediate frequency amplifier 43 (FIGURE 4) is conveyed by means of a circuit path 182 to the Doppler detector or mixer 98 previously referred to. The Doppler detector 98' also receives a Doppler reference signal from terminal M derived from the output of the Doppler reference or buffer amplifier 96. (FIG- URE 3). The relative velocity of a detected object with respect to the observer aircraft can be determined by examining the frequency of the signal delivered by the Doppler detector 98 to its output terminal 190. The frequency of the signal will vary about a mean of zero: frequency since the Doppler detector 98 is essentially a heterodyned mixing device, mixing the output of the intermediate frequency amplifier 43 with the output of the Doppler reference amplifier as received through line M. If the frequency of the signal delivered by the Doppler detector 98 is in one direction with respect to zero frequency, this may'arbitnarily indicate a velocity representing a closing of the detected object with respect to the observer aircraft. If, on the other hand, the output of the Doppler detector 98 comprises a frequency on the other side of zero, this will represent a velocity in an opposite direction, namely, a departing velocity.

The apparatus of the invention shown generally in FIG- URES 5a, 5b, and 6 is employed in order to determine and extract the necessary velocity information from the signal delivered by the- Doppler detector 98, through a Doppler amplifier 192, and relay this information to the zonal ranges I through 5 (FIGURE 1) in which a given object is maintaining the velocities thus detected.

The distance and velocity ranges are determined by the following considerations: As to distance, each distance gate must have a distance range wide enough to track the detected object at least as long as the 3 second observation time referredt-o, this being the time required to observe and process information received by the system in order to determine whether the received signal represents information or noise, and if the signal represents information, to analyze the information. Each of the range gates associated with one of the zones 1 to 5 covers a region between specified maximum and minimum 'dis-. tance values. Starting with a maximum range of 10,000 feet forthe range gate associated with zone 5, the maximum range of each of the other range gates of zones 4 through 1 is smaller than that of the previous higher numbered zonal range gate by a factor of about .7, as indicated in'the table of FIGURE 12.. The successive minimum distance ranges are also in the same ratio. The distance range difference between the maximum and minimum distance settings is the product of the observation time (3 seconds) and the highest closing velocity associated with the given distance range gate. For example,

the highest closing velocity in zone 5 is 1,000 feet per ,At the maximum setting of each distance range gate a maximum closing velocity is chosen such that the gross time element involved will be 10 seconds, this gross time element being taken as the minimum time that can be allowed for the handling of information and the initiation of the desired warning signal. The ratio between the minimum and maximum velocity ranges to be handled within any distance range gate or zone is then taken as approximately .7 to 1, it being observed that in any velocity interval the lower closing rate corresponds to the greater gross time element.

As indicated in FIGURES 5a and 5b, the present invention contemplates the use of two radar Doppler analyzing circuits, one circuit (FIGURE 5a) responsive only to far range information, that is, information received from objects in zones 4 and 5, and the other circuit 82 (FIG- URE 5b) responsive only to near range information, that is, information with respect to objects in zones 1, 2, and 3. In each of the Doppler analyzing arrangements of FIG- URES 5a and 51), range gates 194 and 196, and range gates 198, 200, and 202, respectively, are followed by frequency selective Doppler signal processing circuitry. Inasmuch as each of the zones 1 through 5 (FIGURE 1) is associated with critical velocity and distance combinations which together indicate a potential collision, in accordance with the present invention, each of the range gates 194, 196, 198, 200, and 202, is associated with a particular set of Doppler filters. For example, in FIG- URE 5a, the range gate 1% that passes signals indicative of signals within zonal range 5 (distances lying between the range d and d which, by way of example have been indicated in FIGURE 12, correspond to distances of from 10,000 to 7,000 feet from the observer aircraft) is controlled by a blocking oscillator 240 which in turn is timed by a pickoif circuit 242. In the distance range d to d there is established by the above collision threat considerations a range of velocities V9 to V10. This range of velocities are covered by four velocity gating circuits, often referred to as Doppler or band pass filters 212, 214, 216,- and 218, respectively. Likewise, the critical velocities falling in zone 4, distance ranges d to d may be regarded as covering a velocity range of from V7 to V8. This latter velocity range may be covered by fewer Doppler filters, for example two in number such as 208 and 210, respectively. In the near range collision detection zones 1, 2, and 3, processed in circuitry shown in FIGURE 5b, range gates 198, 200, and 202 may be employed for establishing the zones 1, 2, and 3, respectively. By way of example, two Doppler or band pass filters have been associated with the output of each of these near range gates 198, 200, and 202. Thus, the range gate 202 of zone 1 is associated with two Doppler filters 220 and 222, respectively, which taken together cover the critical velocity range of V1 to V2. With the output of the zone 2 range gate 200, two Doppler filters 224 and 226 are employed for giving coverage to the critical velocity range V3 to V4. Similarly, Doppler filters 228 and 230 are connected with the output of the zone 3 range gate 198 to cover the critical velocity range V5 to V6. Examples of actual values to which these velocity and distance designations may relate, are shown in the chart of FIGURE 12.

From the foregoing it is seen that in accordance with the invention each of the far range and the near range Doppler analyzer circuitry 80 and 82 assigns a plurality of Doppler filters to the output of any given range gate. The present invention takes advantage of this plurality of filters to reduce the effect of noise, especially thermal noise, upon the output signal of the Doppler filters so that the presence and the nature of the information signal can be more easily analyzed. Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the far'range Doppler analyzing arrangement shown in FIGURE 5a, the analyzer arrangement provided for objects received in zones 4 and 5, is provided with a novel type of range gate which may be descriptively termed an open loop tracking gate. Each of these open loop tracking range gates, which track'at a rate corresponding to the expected rate of distance change of the object whose presence is to be detected, are to be distinguished from closed loop tracking arrangements, the latter (exemplified in the aforementioned copending patent application) being effective to track at a rate directly determined by the measured rate of change characteristics of the detected return signal. Since the open loop tracking arrangement of the invention does not depend on measured characteristics of a detected return signal to directly control the rate of tracking, this tracking arrangement is free of complex servo circuits and enjoys a relatively greater noise im- 16 munity (the presence of noise in the return signal has substantially no effect on the tracking rate). On the I other hand, the near range gates associated with the Doppler analyzer 82, shown in FIGURE 5b, are provided with non-tracking range gates. The reason for the foregoing is to take advantage of the greater signal intensity of return radar pulses associated with objects closer to the observer aircraft; thus, each of the nearer range Doppler filters may embrace a larger frequency range without greatly reducing the signal-to-noise ratio for near range signals. On the other hand, for far range signals, which may be greatly attenuated due to the greater distance of the detected object from the observer aircraft, the amount of information passed by each range gate is reduced at any particular time to that falling within, for example, a l microsecond period as will be made clear in connection with the showing of FIGURE 11 (periods 232 of FIGURE 11). If the distance range to which each far range gate 194 and 196 is made responsive is changed in timed relation with respect to the mean velocity of the Doppler signal being received, a given return signal may be effectively tracked by the changing distance range. Thus, with respect to the over-all distance range designated zone 5, and illustrated in FIG- URE 11, the effective response of gate 232 is moved between distance 234 and distance 236, in a direction going from the upper portion of the range of zone 5 to the lower portion of this range. The movement or tracking of the zone 5 range gate 232 through zone 5 is at a rate corresponding to the mean velocity expected in the range gate being tracked. For example, as illustrated in FIG- URE 11, for a mean velocity m, at time interval A, the signal will fall in the center of the range gate and remain at the center of the range gate through the tracking as illustrated by successive time intervals B and C where signal m is shown to remain in the center of the range being tracked. For objects having velocities slightly greater or slightly less than the mean velocity, the range gate 232 will still track these objects since in accordance with the present invention the 1 microsecond range gate is wide enough to accommodate these slightly different velocities. Thus, for example, if a faster than mean velocity object, indicated at points 1, is passed through the range gate 232, the return signal will appear at one edge of the range gate during one time period during the tracking and at the opposite edge of the range gate during the last time period during the tracking. In actuality, since the open loop tracking referred to is initiated by the detection, in the tracking zone 5, of a signal having the distance and velocity parameters to which the zone 5 circuitry is responsive, the tracking is preferably initiated by the detection of the presence of a target at a distance (for example 250 feet) greater than the greatest distance (10,000 feet) to which the circuitry is responsive in order that the detected target fall in the center of the 1 microsecond gate at the start of the tracking cycle. The reason for this is that the substantially different from mean velocity target may not be tracked by the tracking cir-v cuitry for the substantially entire duration of the tracking cycle if the target signal fell at the starting edge of the 1 microsecond gate at the start of the tracking cycle.

Since the four Doppler filters 212, 214, 216, and 218, respectively, are provided for zone 5 (these filters having mean velocities referred to by numerals 1 through 4 in FIGURE 11) the system of the invention is adapted to simultaneously track at each of the four different mean velocities so as to accommodate anyobject velocity within the range of object velocities to be handled by zone 5. Typical values for these mean velocities 1 through 4 are designated in FIGURE 5 by, respectively, mean velocities 737.5 feet per second, 812.5 feet per second, 887.5 feet per second, and 962.5 feet per second. Since eachof the Doppler filters 212 through 218 is adapted to accommodate an actual velocity within 37.5 feet per second on either side of the mean velocity, zone 5 is thus adapted 

